Ghana – IOM Ghana has disbursed micro-business assistance to 12 fishermen in the Biakoye district of Ghana’s Volta Region to encourage them to pursue alternative income-generating activities to fishing. The fishermen previously relied on trafficked children to help them in their work.

The objective of the aid was to prevent further trafficking in the area by supporting the fishermen in finding alternative child trafficking-free livelihood options that would help them earn a decent income.

The assistance was provided following sensitization activities carried out by IOM and partners with fishermen, parents and some children in four targeted Biakoye communities.

The beneficiaries of the funds were fishermen who released trafficked children working for them.

They were encouraged to form cooperatives to create synergies at the community level and enhance their chances to access microcredit from accredited microfinance groups. They were also encouraged to open bank accounts where the money will be deposited to facilitate proper monitoring of the funds disbursed.

Social Welfare officers visited beneficiaries individually to discuss income-generating activities. Activities chosen included cash crop production, such as cassava, maize, groundnut, okra, and animal husbandry. Follow-up monitoring and management advice was also provided.

The impact of livelihood assistance and training of the fishermen will help them meet their basic needs, which in turn will contribute to reducing child trafficking in the region.

The programme was supported by Global Grandparenting and USAIM as part of the rescue, reintegration and rehabilitation of 20 trafficked children.

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For further information, please contact Doris Yiboe at IOM Ghana, Tel:  +233 2302 742930, Email: dyiboe@iom.int